How you can be first to ride the new Gage Park train

It’s out with the old and in with the new, but now you can be the first to ride Gage Park’s newest attraction. The new electric mini train finally arrived at the park Monday morning and Shawnee County Parks and Recreation is offering a raffle ticket for its first ride. The raffle drawing is now open to the public. Tickets will cost $1 each to enter, and the drawing will be held Wednesday, March 8. The first trip is scheduled to leave the station at 10 a.m. sharp on Monday, March 13. Winners will be contacted by phone and email and should arrive no later than 9:30 a.m. to check-in.
Source: KSNT 27 News

Ranson Financial2023-02-28T00:33:19-06:00February 28, 2023|News|

Here’s what Wichita’s new director says golfers can expect at city courses in 2023

Jesse Coffman says Wichita golfers have plenty to look forward to in his first full year as city golf director, including new carts, course marshals and options for buying food and drinks on the greens. Coffman took over the top job in Wichita last June after the City Council voted in March not to outsource management of the city’s four public courses to Illinois-based KemperSports. “We are in a good place financially. The pandemic kind of brought golf back to life, really,” said Coffman, who previously oversaw eight courses for the Fairfax County Park Authority in Virginia, and has also managed a resort-style Marriott golf club in Fort Worth.
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle

Ranson Financial2023-02-28T00:32:06-06:00February 28, 2023|News|

U.S. transportation secretary visits Kansas, gives speech at future Panasonic plant site

Surrounded by local and national leaders, U.S. transportation secretary Pete Buttigieg pointed to the Panasonic project as an example of rural revitalization through green energy transportation projects. Buttigieg, along with Lt. Governor David Toland and U.S. Representative Sharice Davids, among others, gave speeches Monday at the site of the future Panasonic electric vehicle battery plant in De Soto, following his attendance at the Kansas City, Missouri, airport terminal opening. Buttigieg said rural communities across America have struggled with a lack of job opportunities, influencing young people to move elsewhere for careers.
Source: The Lawrence Times

Ranson Financial2023-02-28T00:27:17-06:00February 28, 2023|News|

Clearwater schools interviewing superintendent candidates this week

Finalists for the USD 264 Clearwater superintendent’s position are interviewing with the board of education and visiting with the public this week. One candidate per day was being interviewed from Monday through Thursday. Each finalist is being named on the morning of his or her interview. A meet-and-greet opportunity with each superintendent will be held at 3:30 p.m. daily at the Clearwater High School commons. Candidates start their day at 10:45 a.m. by meeting with district office personnel. Following that is lunch with administrators at the central office. Candidates will then tour district buildings from 12:45 to 3:30 p.m. Following a break from 4 p.m. to 5:45 p.m., candidates will have dinner with the board of education members in executive session. Formal interviews will be held from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m.
Source: Times-Sentinel Newspapers

Ranson Financial2023-02-28T00:25:31-06:00February 28, 2023|News|

Commerce Makes $4.1M in Community Service Tax Credits Available

The Kansas Department of Commerce today announced $4.1 million in tax credits will once again be made available under the Community Service Tax Credit Program (CSP). CSP assists private nonprofit organizations and public healthcare entities undertaking major capital campaigns for projects involving: Community service, including childcare, Non-governmental crime prevention, Youth apprenticeship and technical training, Healthcare services.
Source: Kansas Department of Commerce

Ranson Financial2023-02-27T09:16:54-06:00February 27, 2023|News|

Riley County to host public meeting in Keats to discuss sewer benefit district updates

Riley County officials are planning an informational meeting early next month to discuss the future of the Keats Sewer Benefit District. Commissioners created the district in 2018 after more than 51 percent of affected property owners signed a petition. “After several years of analyzing options, costs, and funding mechanisms, the County sought to move forward with sanitary sewer collection and pump to the City of Manhattan Wastewater Treatment Facility,” said Amanda Webb, Director of Riley County Planning & Development.
Source: 1350 KMAN

Ranson Financial2023-02-27T09:15:05-06:00February 27, 2023|News|

USD 465 seeks citizen input to search for superintendent

The Winfield Board of Education will hire the next superintendent, but they are looking for a little help from citizens within the USD 465 area. The Kansas Association of School Boards has been hired by the district to help search for a new superintendent after Nathan Reed announced he was leaving in June to take a job in Wichita. As part of its efforts, the association is conducting an online survey to find out what characteristics citizens might value in the next top administrator. The survey is linked to the usd465.com website. It was posted Feb. 14 and closes Sunday. There is not an option for a printed survey.
Source: Cowley CourierTraveler

Ranson Financial2023-02-27T09:12:49-06:00February 27, 2023|News|

Quality-of-life survey coming to Ark City

A group of community organizations is launching a survey to learn more about what citizens in and around Arkansas City want and need from their community. The organizations include the Arkansas City Recreation Commission, City of Arkansas City, Cowley College and USD 470. The survey will focus on gathering information from residents about what services, programs and amenities they consider essential, as well as what they think might improve quality of life for current and future residents.
Source: Cowley CourierTraveler

Ranson Financial2023-02-27T09:11:06-06:00February 27, 2023|News|

Flock camera trial approved in Rose Hill

In an effort to enhance community safety and further expand a resource available among area law enforcement agencies, a 45-day trial was approved for the utilization of five Flock Safety Cameras within the city of Rose Hill. Rose Hill would be looking to use Flock’s license plate reader cameras to monitor traffic and share information among departments about criminal activity identified through the system. Flock cameras are currently utilized by nearby departments in Butler County, Sedgwick County, Reno County, Andover, Derby, Mulvane and more.
Source: Derby Informer | Area

Ranson Financial2023-02-27T09:09:04-06:00February 27, 2023|News|

Solar project developer fields questions

When plans for a proposed solar farm in south central Barton County emerged recently, along with the announcement came numerous questions from a curious public. Where will it be? How big will it be? What impact will it have on the nearby Cheyenne Bottoms? This is a project of Chicago-based Acciona Energy USA, an American subsidiary of Madrid, Spain-based Acciona Energy. They have developed solar and wind energy projects around the world, with over 2,000 assets across the United States.
Source: Great Bend Tribune

Ranson Financial2023-02-27T09:06:57-06:00February 27, 2023|News|